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Action Alert
Joe Ferguson - July 03, 2008

ACTION ALERT

Stop the killing of wild Umpqua winter steelhead

Proposed regulations allow the harvest of wild winter steelhead in the Umpqua River and the North  and South Forks.  This is supported by ODFW, who argue that the run is healthy and should be harvested.

The proposals are in reaction to regulations adopted last year banning the killing of wild winter steelhead on these rivers. 

We are asking for your support by sending letters or email to the F&W Commission and/or speaking at two commission meetings where they set regulations for the next four years.

We can overcome ODFW’s bias towards harvesting wild steelhead only by showing the commission that the public cares passionately about protecting them.

Mail to:

ODFW Angling Regulations      

3406 Cherry Avenue NE                              OR:  rhine.t.messmer@state.or.us

Salem OR  97303

Commission Meetings:              August 8:         ODFW HQ, Cherry Av, Salem

    September 12:            To Be Announced later            

More Information:            Steamboaters@Hotmail.com

Arguments Against Killing Wild Umpqua Winter Steelhead

Regulation proposals #240P through #248P would open the mainstem Umpqua and North Umpqua Rivers to harvest of wild winter steelhead, 1/day and 5/year.

• Umpqua winter steelhead are one of the few healthy runs on the west coast. 
• Oregon’s native fish stocks are extinct, at risk or potentially at risk (2005 Oregon Native Fish Status Report, ODFW).   We should be biased towards protecting our remaining healthy wild runs rather than biased towards harvesting them.  
• Steelhead are facing huge problems:  Changing ocean conditions, warmer and lower summer flows, greater forest fire risk. 
• Poor steelhead fishing elsewhere on the west coast has led to huge crowds on the Umpqua system. 
• When fish are kegged up during low flows, people use motors to fish the same water over and over.  The fish are hammered. 
• There’s no data about run timing versus dispersal into different watersheds. Heavy short-term harvest could do great damage to individual “micro-populations.” 
• There is no optimum (or minimum) spawning escapement goal in the current management plan, adopted in 1986. 
• There is no current data on fishing pressure or success rates on the North Umpqua River, or extrapolation into anticipated harvest if the regulation change is made. 
• Guidelines for managing native fish stocks in Oregon (OAR 635-007) are painfully weak. Standards to be met 3 of the last 5 years, for 80% of the populations in a species management unit (the North, South, and Lower Umpqua are each a population in the Coastal Winter Steelhead SMU).

·        Naturally produced fish must occupy 50% of historic habitat

·        Number of naturally produced spawners must be greater than 25% of the 30 year average.

·        In years with below-average spawners, the rate of population increase must be 1.2 returning adults per parent.

·        90% of the spawners must be wild unless hatchery fish are being used to rebuild/restore a population.